The goal of Buddhist practice is not to escape from the world but to transform our relationship with it.

Every moment is a fresh beginning. Every breath is a new chance.

Our own life has to be our message.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

People who study a lot but don't practice are like a ladle in a soup pot. It's in the soup every day, but it doesn't know the taste of the soup.

Peace in oneself, peace in the world.

Trees, mountains, and vines all exist in nature according to their own truth. They are born and die following their nature. They remain this way because that's what they are. They don't practice meditation or do anything special.

Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.

Emptiness is not nothingness. Emptiness is the space of possibility.

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top.

Our practice cannot be perfect, but without being discouraged by this, we should continue it. This is the secret of practice.

Dependent origination is not a theory about the origin of the world but a teaching that shows how suffering originates in dependence on our own mental processes.

When we see the nature of the mind, we see that we are not our thoughts.

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

Zazen is not step-by-step meditation. Rather it is simply the easy and pleasant practice of a Buddha, the realization of the Buddha's Wisdom.

The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do this in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external or superadded.

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.

The teaching is simple: act with kindness and compassion. If you cannot do this, at least try not to harm others.

The force of the kindness of others is so strong, we can't possibly measure it.

Mindfulness means keeping one's consciousness alive to the present reality.

Work diligently. Diligently. Work patiently and persistently. Patiently and persistently. And you're bound to be successful. Bound to be successful.

Each moment of mindfulness is a moment of purification.

This very body is the Buddha. And this very earth the lotus paradise.

The development of wisdom requires both study and practice, both learning and direct experience.

When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love.

The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

Each of you is perfect the way you are... and you can use a little improvement.

Zen is a way of life, not a theory or a piece of knowledge to be stored away in our minds.

When mindfulness and concentration are strong, insight into the three characteristics naturally unfolds.

Enlightenment is not about becoming divine. Instead, it's about becoming more fully human.